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My Turn
Public Funds for SRS? Not Without Strings
By Connie Hundler
Ed. Note: Transgender Forum is a forum for ideas, including ones that are not necessarily popular, politically correct or that the publisher necessarily likes. We believe that lively debate and free speech are the only ways to peacefully resolve controversial questions and issues. We believe you do too.
After reading Dallas Denny's article on the Clarke Institute I felt compelled to respond.
While I am not too familiar with the Canadian Public Health System, I
assume it is similar to European ones. As such, I wonder what the average
person on the Canadian street may think about his/her health insurance
tax money going to pay for SRS for TS? Most would probably shake their
heads.
The bulk of society is not
accepting of TS/TG. The bulk of society may tolerate us, mainly due to
legislation, but surely do not accept us; as most TS/TG who are really honest with themselves can attest to. The
Clarke holding on to older ideas of gender roles and behavior is
understandable, to me anyway.
Do Canadian taxpayers have a right to set standards (acceptable to the
majority of society) for TS/TG medical care when they (the public) are
footing the bill? By demanding the applicants meet certain gender role
standards in dress & behavior - standards set by society - The Clarke,
as the public's agent, ensures it is not squandering public funds but
also in the long run ensuring a possible better tolerance level of those
that do undergo transition and SRS.
I can assume the preceding will
cause controversy, but when public funds are involved - those using the
service provided can only be grateful; especially when the majority of
society does not condone the form of treatment administered in the first
place.
As to The Clarke considering there is something seriously wrong with us
genderfolk, all I can say is "Good Morning, Welcome to the Real World,
nice to see you have woke up." When the doctors judge us as
psychologically not normal what is so wrong with that? We are not
normal. Normally boys say they are boys and girls say they are girls.
As far as the medical society is concerned we should only judge them on
their seriousness and willingness to help us live a more stable life, in
what ever style we can, and also to ensure we are aware of the realities
involved. We can create our own realities - as a subculture; which in
fact the TS/TG/TV communities do to a great extent. But on a day to day
basis we are not living in the TG Community but in the overall society
at large and that society (from where the doctors come from (be they at
The Clarke or where ever)) is not accepting of us, maybe tolerate but
not accepting.
As far Ms. Denny's comment on the suggested job changes involved
with transition I can only say, fine. After SRS the transitioned person
has the option of pursuing whatever profession she/he desires. No one
said the airplane mechanic has to stay a nurse. I can understand the
doctors' suggestion simply because any female or male working in a job
not traditionally associated with their perceived gender (irregardless
if they are GG GM or TS) can surely attest to the challenges they
experience every day.
One can legislate freedom to select an employment
activity or profession, but legislature does not grant one acceptance in
that job choice; and following transition/SRS initial tolerance for
one's person is vital. Why risk this tolerance by insisting to work in a
non-traditional job for one's perceived gender?
Also, I find Ms. Denny should not use such colorfully laden language
when discussing the subject she discoursed on. I noticed this
especially when the adjectives were connected to the noun doctor. I
would have weighed her, in many cases most likely just, arguments more
heavily had this article been less colourful. On the other hand the
article "The Clarke Institute of Psychiatry: Canada's Shame" did elicit
a long response from me.
Any comments to my response can be sent to me at
Connie_1954@hotmail.com.
Connie Hundler is an an American TS living in Europe, post-op since
Thanksgiving 1984
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